People Watching: A Gut-Wrenching Disappointment
Thank you, Dell, for the ARC of People Watching. Now, let me start by assuring you of my sincerest apologies to HBY—if you’re reading this, please, for the love of all that’s good, look away! But seriously, what were you thinking when you wrote this? I implore you, Dell, don’t hold this against me for future requests.
So, let’s get into the meat of it (pun intended): People Watching was, unfortunately, one of the most disappointing reads I’ve encountered in a while. If I could sum it up with a TL;DR, I’d simply say, “THIS WAS DISGUSTING!” From the moment I opened the book, a nagging sense of foreboding sank in. The premise, which promised intriguing character dynamics and steamy moments, quickly devolved into a narrative riddled with—I hate to say it—predatory behavior from the male protagonist.
Milo, with his supposed "hawt ‘stache" and tattooed exterior, felt like a caricature of a bad boy rather than a complex character. He often overstepped boundaries to an alarming degree, making it impossible to root for him, while Prudence (or should I say Prude[nce]?) felt painfully one-dimensional—a 25-year-old virgin lacking agency or personality beyond her sexual inexperience. The author attempts to create tension by juxtaposing their sexual experiences, but it simply lands on the wrong side of uncomfortable.
The writing itself: it felt forced and rushed. HBY’s previous works, like Out on a Limb, showcased a deeper understanding of character development. Yet this felt like a summary, lacking real emotional stakes or the promised flair. Moments that could have sparkled instead felt like clumsy gropes towards substance. Take for example, Milo’s nickname for Prudence—“killer.” This dialogue is purporting to be cute or flirty, but it misses the mark entirely, adding a level of cringe that made me mourn for better banter.
And then, the so-called romance between Milo and Prudence spiraled into coercion. The casual disregard for consent, particularly when Prudence is hesitant about their encounters, made me want to scream. It’s exceptionally disheartening to see a contemporary romance fail on such fundamental levels. We’re in 2025, for heaven’s sake—how did this blatant coercion make it through editorial eyes?
Honestly, there were moments that stopped me in my tracks, with cringe-worthy lines like, “you’ll have to teach me,” in reference to sex. It’s 2023; do we really need to infantilize a 25-year-old woman so blatantly? Instead of empathy, I just felt weary.
Ultimately, the biggest sin of People Watching may not be its lack of cohesion or character development but rather how it handles potentially serious themes like trauma and mental health. There are genuine moments—like Prudence’s struggles with her mother’s early-onset Alzheimer’s—that could have provided a depth to the narrative, yet they found themselves overshadowed by the intoxicatingly rough edges of the romance.
In conclusion, while there might be readers who enjoy a more explicit and edgy romance with strong emphasis on sexual escapades, I cannot recommend People Watching. It’s a hollow tale that I believe does a disservice to the romance genre as a whole. I hope, for the sake of romance lovers everywhere, that HBY finds her voice again in future works! If you’re looking for a thoughtful exploration of romance that includes healthy relationships, keep this one off your list. Happy reading, folks!
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